climate

A view of a dry lake bed near the village of Conoplja, 150 kilometers north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022.

Environment

The drought across Europe is drying up rivers, killing fish and shriveling crops

6:08am August 12, 2022

by The Associated Press

An unprecedented drought is afflicting nearly half of the European continent, damaging farm economies, forcing water restrictions and causing wildfires and threatening aquatic species.

While the U.S. military has used burn pits in other conflicts, one expert says they were exceptionally large in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What is the legacy of burn pits? For some Iraqis, it's a lifetime of problems

5:00am August 12, 2022

The PACT Act provides new access to services for American veterans struggling with the health effects of exposure to burn pits. But in Iraq, civilians who were exposed are still on their own.

Queue Listen Now

The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for residential solar and battery storage systems, along with other measures aimed at encouraging individuals to cut their carbon emissions.

3 ways the Inflation Reduction Act would pay you to help fight climate change

11:53am August 11, 2022

by Laura Benshoff

Some of the Act's $369 billion in energy and climate spending aims to make it easier and cheaper for Americans to live more sustainably.

What the Inflation Reduction Act does and doesn't do about rising prices

10:10am August 11, 2022

by Juliana Kim

The Inflation Reduction Act is not expected to bring down inflation dramatically or right away, but experts say that might not be such a bad thing given the bill's other areas of focus.

A person picks through trash for reusable items as a fire rages at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi, April 27, 2022.

Environment

Scientists say landfills release more planet-warming methane than previously thought

1:57am August 11, 2022

by The Associated Press

A study builds on research that shows landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions globally, after oil and gas systems and agriculture.

The Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on carbon capture, explained

5:14pm August 10, 2022

NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Jamil Farbes, principal at Evolved Energy Research, about the technology and future of carbon capture and what the Inflation Reduction Act could do for the industry.

Steve Holett surveys the aftermath of the Elmo 2 Fire at his property, where he had spent the last 18 months building a home.

National

This Montana couple built their dream home, only to have it burn down in minutes

6:26am August 10, 2022

by Halisia Hubbard

After 18 months of building, the Holetts were nearly set to move into their dream home in Dayton, Mont. It took their life savings to build the cabin. It took one wildfire to burn it down in minutes.

A town is running out of drinking water after wildfire contaminates supply

4:55pm August 09, 2022

by Alice Fordham

A town spared by New Mexico's biggest wildfire could run out of water in a few weeks because the fire contaminated its supply. The race is on for an expensive fix.

How to STAY COOL without an air conditioner: Tips from Indian heat wave researcher Gulrez Shah Azhar. Get a swamp cooler. Nap during the hottest parts of the day. Hang damp curtains to cool the air. Hydrate with water and juice. Wear a wet scarf around yo

11 more tips on how to stay cool without an A/C, recommended by NPR's readers

3:13pm August 09, 2022

by Malaka Gharib

NPR readers share their favorite tips on how to cope with heat without an air conditioner. Among the tips: take a shower with a sheet on, then wear it to bed.

World News

Taps will soon run dry as 'Day Zero' nears on South Africa's Eastern Cape

5:24pm August 08, 2022

by Mpho Lakaje

In South Africa, the city formerly known at Port Elizabeth is approaching "Day Zero", the moment when the taps may run dry.